An Auckland police officer was punched in the head multiple times, left bruised and with a broken finger after attempting to stop a car in the south Auckland suburb of Flat Bush.
The officer pulled over a vehicle on Ormiston Road just after midday on Tuesday when it took off, Inspector Wendy Spiller, Area Commander for Counties Manukau East said.
When the vehicle was stopped by traffic it reversed into the police vehicle.
The alleged offender then got out of his vehicle and "began immediately punching the officer in the head a number of times".
Members of the public intervened and the police officer was taken to A&E.
"He has a broken finger and a number of bruises, thankfully he has not suffered any serious head injury," Inspector Spiller said.
The 25-year-old man has been charged with 'Assaults with Intent to Injure', 'Operate a Motor Vehicle recklessly' and 'Failed to Stop When Required'.
He is due to appear in Manukau District Court on Thursday.
"We would like to thank the members of our community who intervened in this incident. We would never expect them to put themselves in harm's way but we acknowledge their actions," Inspector Spiller said.
"We also would like to say that it is completely unacceptable that any person would assault a police officer, completely unprovoked when they are simply doing their job.
"They leave their families every day to serve our communities and they deserve to go home safely."
